ALGIERS – Five (5) elements supporting terrorist groups were arrested by detachments of the People’s National Army (ANP) in separate operations across the national territory, conducted from July 26th to August 1st, 2023, according to an operational report from the Ministry of National Defense (MDN) published on Wednesday.
“As part of the fight against terrorism and based on intelligence exploitation, detachments of the People’s National Army apprehended (05) elements supporting terrorist groups during separate operations across the national territory,” the report stated.
The ANP report also mentioned the thwarting of an attempt to introduce a “significant” quantity of cocaine, totaling over 35 kilograms, into the country at the Port of Algiers, concealed on board a Maltese-flagged commercial ship.
“As part of securing our territorial waters and combating organized crime, and as a continuation of sustained efforts to counter the scourge of drug trafficking in our country, a maritime brigade of the Coastal Guards of Algiers/Central Maritime Facades in the 1st Military Region thwarted an attempt to introduce a significant quantity of cocaine, amounting to thirty-five (35) kilograms and eight hundred (800) grams, concealed on board a Maltese-flagged commercial ship at the Port of Algiers,” the report specified.
According to the same source, “the operation was carried out in coordination with the National Security services, based on intelligence indicating the introduction of a quantity of cocaine by the ship named ‘HARIS,’ coming from Malta and docked at berth 33 in the Port of Algiers.”
“Consequently, floating units of the Coastal Guards were dispatched to secure the operation area, and once the search warrant issued by the Public Prosecutor was obtained, the ship was meticulously searched by the Coast Guard agents, resulting in the seizure of the aforementioned quantity concealed in a crane on board the ship,” the report added.
In the same context, “combined detachments of the ANP, in coordination with various security services, intercepted 36 drug traffickers in operations carried out across the Military Regions, foiling attempts to introduce (174) kilograms of processed cannabis coming from the borders with Morocco, and seizing 271,007 psychotropic tablets.”
In Tamanrasset, Adrar, In Guezzam, and Djanet, ANP detachments “arrested (161) individuals and seized (28) vehicles, (195) power generators, (103) jackhammers, (05) metal detectors, as well as quantities of explosives, detonation tools, and equipment used in illegal gold mining operations. Additionally, (19) other individuals were intercepted, and (06) hunting rifles, quantities of foodstuffs destined for smuggling and speculation amounting to (13) tons, in addition to (16) quintals of tobacco and (28,835) units of various beverages were seized in separate operations across the national territory,” the ANP report detailed.
Similarly, the Border Guards, in coordination with the National Gendarmerie and Customs services, thwarted attempts to smuggle quantities of fuel totaling (7,921) liters in Tébessa, Souk Ahras, and El-Tarf.
Furthermore, the Coast Guards foiled attempts of clandestine emigration along our national coasts and rescued (270) individuals aboard artisanal boats, while (237) illegal immigrants of various nationalities were arrested across the national territory.
These operations executed by ANP units and detachments, as part of the ongoing efforts in the fight against terrorism and various forms of organized crime, “yielded quality results that reflect the high professionalism, vigilance, and permanent readiness of our Armed Forces throughout the national territory,” concludes the MDN report.